In general I am anti-arbitrage but for something so unique it may make sense. 

While personal circumstances can vary, it will be a unique situation indeed if $10K in debt should force you to declare bankruptcy. 

There's a world of possibilities out there, and each one offers unique benefits.You might find that single-family homes are readily available and could be easier to manage or sell if the need arises.

It offers unique advantages like equity building, tax benefits (e.g., deductions and depreciation), and an inflation hedge, as rental income and property values often rise with inflation.

Additionally, I've been spending a lot of time evaluating condo / HOA management solutions and accidentally stumbled on ManageCasa, which offers a free trial and < 3 unit free tier that has allowed me the time to get in, kick the tires, and really appreciate their attention to detail and broad feature set that adapts to each unique industry sector.

ROBOT VOICE: The HELOC method isn't a magic way to save on interest.

Every situation is unique, and we work with strategic partners to provide solutions for almost any scenario.

@Jake Andronico is voicing sold investment advice by considering what your cashflow would be with paid off real estate. 

What's unique about my property is that it has an Arcade Room with Pacman and streetfighter arcade machines along with a popcorn machine.  

They are somewhat unique to Wichita & may throw off your numbers for those new duplexes.